Japan Bound

Well, now that I have finished school (this semester was simply bananas, by the way), I have time to tell you good news!

I have been accepted into the JET Program! After waiting about a month after my interview in February (which apparently went pretty well!), I got that congratulatory email. Talk about a wave of emotions. I called my mom first and after I excitedly spit out the news, she said her congratulations and then she said a tearful "I'm going to miss you." That's when my waterworks started. It's unfortunate that I will have to leave my family and friends again, but this has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I can't wait to go back!

I will be leaving July 30th. This summer, needless to say, is going to go by really fast!

My friends, both those who have been accepted into JET as well and other friends in general, and I have been discussing whether JET will be placing teachers in the affected areas of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. At first we thought, "Well, maybe not because, you know, it's sort of a mess right now." Yet at the same time, someone brought up, "Despite everything, they are still going to need English teachers, you know?"

So, I have decided. No matter where they place me, I will go. I won't know of my location until June but I've made up in my mind, that I will take my placement happily. I didn't work this hard to end up not going in the long run. This is an experience of a lifetime. I'm not going to give it up. Sure, I would rather not be placed in Tohoku (North-east), but if I am, so be it.

Honestly, I feel like I bring a lot of joy into the lives of my family and friends. I don't mean to sound cocky or anything, but it's something I noticed that I can do and it makes me happy, knowing that I can do it. I would bring me even more joy to share it with a community that needs it. Wherever I go, I want to share it.

Eventually, I'll have to edit the tagline for this blog

Hello! Long time no see, again. There has been an update in the JET application process. I have an interview in less than two weeks! I'm more than excited. Thrilled. Ecstatic. Overjoyed.

If everything goes smoothly, God willing, I will be back in Japanland some time during the summer, probably July. I'll know for sure whether I have been accepted in April. So much waiting! Not enough patience!

Once that happens, I will continue this blog again (consistently) and be talking about my adventures not as an exchange student but as a teacher~

More good news to come! *crosses fingers*

Surprise!

Well, it's been a long time since I've visited this page and over two months since I have left Japan. I'm writing here today because I've officially decided to join the JET Program and will be working on the application this week. So, I'm hoping to be shipped back to Japan next year. (I sort of wish I didn't cancel my bank account...I didn't think I'd be coming back so quickly.)

So, in the midst of this crazy senior year, I'm going to work on getting my application in before November 18th. Wish me luck~

Not Goodbye.

Last Wednesday, I went to Ueno Zoo with some of my friends! It was my first time being there. I positively love going to the zoo, so I was thrilled. It was a really fun day because my friends are just as silly as I am. I couldn't be a happier person.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2045127&id=1230390045&l=c8159ec710

But to more recent matters, tonight is my last night in Japan. For a while anyway.
On Sunday night, my friends and I went to a fireworks festival in Yokohama. I wish I had visited Minato Mirai, where the fireworks show took place, more often before then. It's a beautiful and fun place, with a little amusement park right by the bay. Reminds me a tiny bit of Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2045450&id=1230390045&l=431f758367

I debated with myself for a while whether I should go, due to worrying about packing, cleaning, and financial issues. But I decided I needed to go, for the sake of some closure and to have one last good memory to hold on to when I miss this place. At the end of the day, many of us ate together, took lots of pictures, and I got my hugs and farewells. It all feels so strange and unreal. I literally cannot believe that I'll be leaving. It's hard to grasp.

Tonight is more packing, cleaning, sorting and such. I'll be back in America so soon. It's unbelievable, all of this has ended. I know I sound like a broken record, but it's how I feel now. When it comes down to it, my dream has been completed. All I can say sometimes is "wow."

I'm wondering whether I'll face counter-culture shock. I don't feel like I did when I came home during the spring, but now that I will be remaining in America for longer, it may be different.

Well, this is my last post for this blog. Maybe when I come back here, I'll keep writing in it though. I don't know when I'll come back. Hopefully sooner than later, that would be wonderful. So many supportive, friendly, and caring people here who I will miss terribly. I cannot thank the people who I've met here enough for making this the experience that I've always wanted. The more I reflect on this, the more I want to cry. But I will fight the tears and enjoy what little time I have here.

Eels, Watermelons, Sunflowers and Cicadas

These are the things that make summer in Japan. Apparently, eel is the choice food for getting re-energized, especially in the tortuous heat. We had eel for dinner last night. I know a lot of people think that sounds gross, but really, it's just like fish. Quite tasty (if you like fish). Watermelons are a popular summer dish here too. We had a dorm farewell party a couple weekends ago and the dorm manager's wife treated us to big watermelon slices. Beer is a big deal here during the summer. There's an abundance of beer commercials featuring people on beaches or having a picnic, and they all are super refreshed. I think it's funny because I think beer tastes gross. Oh well. In Eda, the cicadas are very loud. Since there is a variety of cicadas, there is a variety in their cries. Weirdly, I haven't even seen one yet - only heard them. I'm okay with that though.

My classes ended on Wednesday. My friends and I ended the semester with a bang: went to karaoke for a couple hours, some of us ate out at a yakitori place (grilled chicken, but they serve other meats as well, served on a stick), and then went to listen to my friend's show in a bar. A very good day indeed.

Now I'm wrestling with a number of farewell parties and events. I'm finding people who would like to buy my things (refrigerator, table, cooking wear, television) for cheap. I was going to send two boxes of things home today, but I found out the post office is closed on weekends. I felt bad for asking my friend to help me, only to find that we had to lug my stuff right back to the dorm. My arms sort of feel like jelly right now, so even typing this is proving to be a tad difficult.

I have to cancel my cellphone, close my bank account, cancel my health insurance, buy some souvenirs, (maybe schedule in one last hair appointment, I want to say bye to Ikko!), pay off remaining dorm bills, and PACK! I've got a little bit more than a week. Oh, and I'm going to see if I can get my luggage sent to the airport so I won't have to drag around two monster suitcases around. I'm sure I can, just need to figure out how to go about doing it.

Home is so close and everything feels like it's in slow motion. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like time is racing by even faster. I look around my room and can't believe I'll be leaving all this in such a short time. I feel like I'll be leaving a little piece of me behind. I'm not sure why, but I just do. I'm not excited about the saying good-bye part of all of this. Cat left for home yesterday and I had to keep from crying. When I see people and we part ways, it's hard to believe that all these people who have made my year live all over the place. Not just across the country, like Montana, Arizona, California, Oregon but across the world, like Germany, England, Hong Kong, Korea...I'm so happy that Japan has brought us all together but I'm so sad that I'm leaving. Everyone asks whether I'm happy to come home. Of course, I am, but at the same time, I'm not happy at all. I hate to leave all these people. I hate to leave this country that has meant so much to me for years. I want to come back. I don't know when I will, but I want to come back. I have so many more friends to come back to. I love this place.

Pictures Speak Louder than Words

And with that, I shall provide the said pictures:
My "Japan is Beautiful" album. A variety of trips, events, and moments documented here.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2037709&id=1230390045&l=88436beb0c

My "Redonkulosity" album. I have come across some ridiculous things.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2038860&id=1230390045&l=c202a2f738

I really wanted to update this, because I haven't in a while but don't have the time or energy. Please enjoy the pictures I've taken. This is my last week of school and it's going out with a bang.

Tomorrow (Monday): Paper for Japanology.

Tuesday: Art history test (the thing is, I get it all prepared at home, and bring in my materials to write it down in class for an hour), Japanese (on vocabulary and writing) test, a small presentation on societal problem. I picked drunk driving in America ("Designated driver" in Japanese is "Handle Keeper" - this phrase sounds funnier in spoken Japanese).

When all the chaos is over with and if I manage to keep my head on straight, I'll come back and expand upon my recent adventures. It's getting down to two weeks. I've got two boxes packed and when I get a moment to breath, I'll send them home.

I know I just said I wouldn't talk for long, but I just have to say that we had our official farewell party. It was wonderful. So many friends, so many fun memories. We had an after party as well which was delightful and crazy and it makes me smile just thinking about it. I forgot my camera though but fortunately, everyone else had theirs so I've been just collecting other people's pictures from Facebook. Hah, talk about handy!

Tomorrow is Marine Day, a national holiday, but we still have school. Whomp of all whomps in the world.

~HANABI~

On a lighter note from my last post, the exchange students and our Japanese friends/tutors gathered by our favorite river for a picnic...on the Fourth of July! We had soccer, Frisbee, and FIREWORKS (please note the title of this post - this is what that means :) Just so you know)! Small fireworks are sold in convenience stores (and probably super markets too, just haven't been to one lately to see them) here. In Japan, summer means fireworks!

So, we got our own set of fireworks and we had a ball. It was quite a hilarious scene. Our American pride and enthusiasm was a bit over the top, complete with cheering and screaming, "AMERICA!" Our friends from various countries had fun with it too. One of my Korean friends jokingly wished me happy birthday. I'm sure they thought we were crazy at least once during our shenanigans. But we all like each other, so it's all good.

Oh! And here are more pictures! If you go to page three, the newer ones regarding Independence Day start there. (It just occurred to me that I didn't get to watch the movie "Independence Day" this year, like I always do because it's always on TV. Thanks Will Smith, for being part of my American traditions) http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2037709&id=1230390045&l=88436beb0c

Well, it's coming down to the end of my adventure here in Japanland. I can barely believe it. June just raced on by without looking back and July is here. Finishing up the semester here. So far on my plate I have:

* A take home test for Art History (thank goodness! It would be impossible for me to take this in-class. Translating the notes and then figuring it out the material within the context is a mentally exhausting and very time consuming. The more time to work, the better.)

* A paper for Heiwa o Kangaeru (I will always remember this class and grimace...)

* Several tests for Japanese classes. Just had one of them today. It wasn't too bad.

*I'm done with Creative Writing! I handed in two chapters (16 pages) of my...novella? Novelette? It's definitely not going to be long enough to be a novel (it has no title as of yet). Wrote and illustrated a children's book called "Meet Polly: The Girl with Bottomless Pockets."

*One more paper to write for Japanology. The class has gotten more interesting. We've been watching videos about manga, robots and food. Totally cool.

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My goal is to have as much fun as HUMANLY POSSIBLE (within reason) this last month (and of course, do really well in school. I know you're reading this Mom). I don't want any regrets (although I already do regret not going to Kyoto when I could have during the spring break...) because I don't know when I'll be able to visit my Japan again. I know I'll miss it here the moment I'm back in America. But I love and miss you America. I can't wait to come home.